This page is maintained by Swanton Village, Inc and is intended to be the official online posting of public meetings and minutes in accordance with Vermont’s Open Meeting law (Amended July 1st, 2014).

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

March 9, 2020

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

 

 

 

 

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, March 9, 2020

7:00 PM

 

 

 

 

PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau Jr., Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; and Ch. 16.

 

 

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

 

 

  1. Call to Order:

 

Neal Speer, Village President, called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

  1. Agenda Review:

 

Adam Paxman stated he needs to add “Personnel” to Executive Session. Reg Beliveau stated he would like to discuss their upcoming purchases in each department. He said these were all approved in the budget but wanted to keep the Board advised. He said this could be done in Any Other Business.

 

  1. Swear in elected officials for 2020: Neal Speer, Village President (one year term); Adam Paxman, Village Trustee (three year term); Dianne Day, Village Clerk (one year term) and Betty Cheney, Delinquent Tax Collector (one year term) were sworn in on March 4, 2020 to perform duties:

 

Neal Speer read aloud is Oath of Office for Village President for a One Year Term; Adam Paxman read aloud is Oath of Office for Village Trustee for a Three Year Term. Dianne Day, Village Clerk and Betty Cheney, Delinquent Tax Collector, were sworn in on March 4, 2020 so they could conduct Village business.

 

  1. Appoint a Treasurer for the Village of Swanton for 2020 and swear in:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to appoint Dianne Day as Village Treasurer for a One Year Term. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Dianne Day read aloud her Oath of Office for Village Treasurer. Motion carried.

 

  1. Motion that the Swanton Village Board of Trustees Adopt VLCT Model Rules of Procedures for the rules of procedure for Village Trustees for the upcoming year through March 2021:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to adopt VLCT Model Rules of Procedure for Municipal Boards, Committees and Commissions. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

 

  1. 2020 Official Voting Results:

 

Neal Speer, Village President, read aloud the Official Voting Results for Officers and Budgets. They are as follows:

 

 

Official Return of Voting Results

OFFICIAL RETURN OF VOTES

ANNUAL SWANTON VILLAGE MEETING ELECTION OF VILLAGE OFFICERS

MARCH 3, 2020

BALLOT ACCOUNTABILITY

 

 

Number of Voters on Checklist                                                                        1439                                                      

Number of Ballots Counted (including absentees)                                       492                                                        

Number of Absentee Ballots Counted                                                            46                                          

 

I, Dianne Day, Swanton Village Clerk, hereby certify that the results of the ELECTION OF OFFICERS by AUSTRALIAN BALLOT at the ANNUAL SWANTON VILLAGE MEETING held in the Swanton Village Complex in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont on the 3rd day of March A.D. 2020 were as follows:

 

VILLAGE PRESIDENT, for one-year NEAL SPEER                                                 450                                        

Write Ins                                                                                                                               8                                                             

Undervote                                                                                                                             34

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED                                                                                       492

 

VILLAGE CLERK, for one-year DIANNE DAY                                                         457

Write Ins                                                                                                                               1

Undervote                                                                                                                             34

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED                                                                                       492

 

COLLECTOR OF DELINQUENT TAXES, for one-year BETTY CHENEY        465

Write Ins                                                                                                                               3

Undervote                                                                                                                             24

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED                                                                                       492

 

VILLAGE TRUSTEE, for three years ADAM PAXMAN                                          438

Write Ins                                                                                                                               4

Undervote                                                                                                                             50

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED                                                                                       492

 

Attest: _________________________ Dianne Day

Swanton Village Clerk

 

Official Return of Voting Results

OFFICIAL RETURN OF VOTES

ANNUAL SWANTON VILLAGE MEETING BUDGET VOTE

MARCH 3, 2020

BALLOT ACCOUNTABILITY

 

Number of Voters on Checklist                                                                                        1439

Number of Ballots Counted (including absentees)                                                       492                                        

Number of Absentee Ballots Counted                                                                            46                                                          

 

I, Dianne Day, Swanton Village Clerk, hereby certify that the results of the BUDGET VOTE by AUSTRALIAN BALLOT at the ANNUAL SWANTON VILLAGE MEETING held in the Swanton Village Complex in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont on the 3rd day of March A.D. 2020 were as follows:

 

ARTICLE II, General Fund, $131,726                                                                          

Yes Votes                                              405                                                                                                        

No Votes                                               77                                                                                                          

Undervote                                             10                                                                          

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED       492

                                                                               

ARTICLE III, Highway Fund, $517,597                                                                      

Yes Votes                                              430                                                                                                                        

No Votes                                               54                                                                          

Undervote                                             8                                                                             

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED       492

                                                                               

ARTICLE IV, Fire Department, $80,833                                                                      

Yes Votes                                              434                                                                                                        

No Votes                                               52                                                                                          

Undervote                                             6                                                             

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED       492

                                                                               

ARTICLE V, Police Department, $686,886                                                 

Yes Votes                                              350                                                                                        

No Votes                                               134                                                                        

Undervote                                             8                                                                             

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED       492

                                                                               

ARTICLE VI, Surplus Hwy Funds, $30,615

Yes Votes                                              416                                                                                        

No Votes                                               70                                                          

Spoiled/Overvote                 0                                                             

Undervote                                             6                                                                             

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED       492

 

                                                                               

ARTICLE VII, Surplus Gen Funds, $20,600

Yes Votes                                              356                                                        

No Votes                                               126                                                        

Undervote                                             10                                                                          

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED       492

                                                                               

ARTICLE VIII, Surplus Fire Funds $18,400

Yes Votes                                              395                                                                        

No Votes                                               91                                                                          

Undervote                                             6

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED       492

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX, CDBG Funds $25,000

Yes Votes                                              420                                                                                                        

No Votes                                               65                                                                          

Undervote                                             7                                             

TOTAL BALLOTS COUNTED       492

                                                                                                                               

 

Attest: _________________________ Dianne Day

Swanton Village Clerk

 

  1. Approve and accept Minutes from Monday, February 10, 2020 and Minutes from the Informational Meeting Monday, February 24, 2020:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from Monday, February 10, 2020 and Minutes from the Informational Meeting Monday, February 24, 2020 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

 

  1. Approve and accept Village Warrants through Friday, March 6, 2020:

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through Friday, March 6, 2020 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach asked about the payment made to Kittell, Branagan & Sargent for $22,570 and one for $1930. He wanted to know why there were two invoices. Dianne Day, Village Clerk, said someone from their office comes and does an inventory audit a few weeks before they audit the financial documents. Motion carried.

 

  1. Public Comment – Tom Benton will introduce BENT Media:

 

Reg Beliveau advised that Tom couldn’t make tonight’s meeting because of sickness. The Board suggested this item be tabled to a further date.

 

  1. Sign Loan Agreement – Vermont State Revolving Fund for Wastewater Treatment Plant Planning Loan:

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion for the Board of Trustees to sign the loan agreement for the Vermont State Revolving Fund for $62,900 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Planning Loan. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Eugene LaBombard stated this has already been discussed and approved at previous meetings. Motion carried.

 

11. Any Other Necessary Business:

 

Reg Beliveau informed the Board that VT Transco is offering equity units and the Village of Swanton’s share would cost $2370. He said because this is a lower amount than usual, he would like the Village to purchase these units on their own. Chris Leach made the motion to authorize Village Manager Reg Beliveau to sign and purchase Class A and Class B Units and Class A and Class B Equity for a total of $2370. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

 

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau presented the Board with a list of items scheduled to be purchased in each department. He said these were in the budget and were approved. Some of the items to be bought include a truck in the electric department and he also mentioned the FERC relicensing that cost $215,000. He said they also plan on purchasing a skid steer that will be split in the sewer, water and highway department. He also mentioned that if something isn’t purchased for some reason or another these funds are put back into that department the following year if the voters approve of it.

 

Any Other Business: Chris Leach stated he wanted to acknowledge that the Board of Trustees are aware of what’s going on with the Corona virus. Reg Beliveau said the Chief of Police has attended a conference regarding this and they are working on putting procedures in place.

 

 

 

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated he received information on the latest Legislative Update from February 28th and he read an article on dam safety. He read the paragraph and said this sounds like they could be talking about the Swanton Lower Dam. He also mentioned a report from the finance committee referring to raising electric rates by as much as 10% each year to fund alternative power source projects. The Board discussed this as well as the Act 250 proposed changes.

 

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau informed the Board that he would like to offer the residents who live along the new water line by Missisquoi Valley School District the opportunity to connect to that water line free of charge. He said the residents would have one year to do this if they wanted to. Adam Paxman made the motion to enter a Water Commissioner’s meeting at 7:52 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton to allow the residents who live along the new MVU water line the ability to connect to the Village water system free of charge for up to one year. He further moved the residents would need to pay for any excavation that took place on their own property and would have to purchase a water meter package from the Village. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to exit Water Commissioner’s meeting and re-enter Open Session at 7:53 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

 

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated he along with the Board of Trustees attended the Highgate Selectboard meeting last week regarding the Highgate Airport Water Line Project. Eugene LaBombard stated that Wayne Elliott gave a very good presentation on how to get the Village’s water line up to the airport. He said the cost for this project would be incurred by the Town of Highgate and said it wouldn’t cost the Village anything. They talked about how viable this project is and very good economically for the community. Chris Leach stated it would bring more industry to the Town of Highgate. Reg said Tim Smith from FCIDC told him if there were enough buildings up there, they could be filled with businesses already. He also said Joe Flynn from the Agency of Transportation supports this project. The Board agreed and hoped the State of Vermont would get behind this project and help support it. Eugene said this would help the entire county and keep current citizens in Franklin County working instead of traveling to Chittenden County. Reg said that this would benefit Swanton Village as well by being the water contributor and said the timeline for this project is in the next year or so. Eugene said it was a very informative meeting and the Board definitely supports this project.

 

Any Other Business: Neal Speer said he would like to thank Chris Leach for taking his place at the Town and Village Informational Meeting. Reg also said he would like to thank the voters for their support again this year.

 

  1. Executive Session if Necessary:

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter Executive Session to discuss personnel at 8:07 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

 

Chris Leach made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:15 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

 

ACTION TAKEN: None.

 

  1. Adjournment:

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:15 p.m.  Chris Leach seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________             _______________________________________

Neal Speer, Village President                            Date

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________    ___________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                Date